House fires can happen to anyone, but there are some easy things you can do to reduce the risks.

Protect your property

House fires are caused most commonly by cooking, smoking and electrical faults in wiring or appliances. Many housefires start in the kitchen – don’t leave the room while food is cooking on the stove. If a fire starts, put a lid over the burning pan or use a fire extinguisher; never move a fire.

 

• Never throw water on a burning fat or oil fire as it will cause an explosive reaction. 
• Keep curtains, electrical cords, tea towels and your dressing gown sleeves well away from a hot plate or gas flame.
• Make sure cigarette butts are put out properly before throwing them away and never smoke in bed. Tiny embers can smoulder in the bedding without you noticing and burst into flames later.
• Faulty wiring, overloaded power points and faulty appliances can all start fires. Don’t do your own electrical wiring, call a qualified electrician and either get broken appliances fixed or throw them away.
• Don’t put electrical cords under rugs, over nails or in high traffic areas, as walking on cords can break wiring and possibly cause a fire.
• Make sure there’s plenty of air around your TV, video, stereo and computer equipment so it doesn’t overheat.

 

Protect your family

Most deaths from house fires occur at night when people are asleep. Smoke inhalation and asphyxiation are the leading causes. Many fires will be confined to one room, but are still dangerous as smoke can fill a house in just a few minutes. People often overestimate the time they would have to escape a fire. But in real life, you may have no idea where the fire is, you’ll hardly be able to see anything and you’ll find it very difficult to breathe. It’s easy to panic, with tragic results.

Smoke alarms are essential to give you early warning of a fire in your home, especially at night. You can’t smell smoke when you’re asleep. And don’t count on the kids reacting to an alarm; studies show 85% of children won’t wake up if it goes off.

 

In a fire, every second counts. Don’t stop to gather possessions, pets or call the fire brigade. Your only priority is to get out. Call 111 from your neighbour’s phone.

 

10 easy ways to prevent and survive a fire in your home:

 

Prevent

 
1.  Install smoke alarms.

 

Smoke alarms are inexpensive and are easy to install – ideally they’ll be interconnected, so if one goes off, they all will.  Follow the instructions when you install them; if they’re in the wrong place you might as well not have them. Put one outside each bedroom at least; for maximum protection install alarms both inside and outside bedrooms – especially if people sleep with the door closed or use electric blankets - and in all living areas.  If unsure, seek assistance from a qualified electrician.  See the smoke alarm checklist below.

 

2. Test your smoke alarms once a month.

 

On most models you can use a broom handle to push the test button and make sure it beeps. If you have battery-operated alarms, change the batteries at least once a year – pick a day and stick to it, so you don’t forget.

 

3. Keep a fire extinguisher or fire blanket in the kitchen.

You can buy New Zealand Standard Approved equipment at hardware stores. Make sure you read the instructions and know how to use them.

 

4. Lock matches and lighters away out of sight.

 

Teach your kids to take any matches or lighters they find to an adult straight away. Even child-safe lighters aren’t child-proof. Never underestimate a child’s ability to reach things you’ve put ‘out of bounds’.

 

5. Don’t dry clothes near heaters.

 

Make sure all your heating appliances are professionally installed. Put guards around open fires and heaters too if there are children about. Never leave an open fire burning or radiant heater switched on when you go to bed or leave the house.

 

6. Check lights and lampshades.

 

Recessed downlights need to be properly insulated from ceiling materials. Check the light fittings aren’t getting too hot. Check for lampshades that are too close to the light bulb and for unstable lamps than can easily fall over.

 

7. Clean the lint filter on your clothes dryer.

 

Clean it every single time you use it.  A build up of lint can catch fire.

 

Survive

8. Make a fire escape plan today.

 

Sit down with the family and work out the quickest, safest way to get out of your home should a fire start. Draw a floor plan with arrows to mark at least two ways out (including windows) of every room. Decide on a place to meet outside, like the letterbox, so you’ll know everyone got out safely. Practice your fire escape plan twice a year.

 

9. Practice “Get down low and go go go.”

 

In a fire the air that is best for breathing is near the floor. Get down low and crawl to safety. Many children will be taught this at school, along with “Stop, drop and roll.” If a person’s clothes catch alight, stop them from running and roll them on the ground to put out the flames. A fire blanket or wool blanket will help. Practice both rules with your kids.

 

10. Don’t key-lock doors from the inside while you’re at home

 

Be careful when you use deadlocks. They should not be key-locked from the inside while you’re at home as this may stop you getting out of the house in  an emergency - especially fire. Many people killed in housefires, particularly the elderly, are found close by a deadlocked door.

Smoke Alarm checklist.

 

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing smoke alarms. Some detectors are powered by batteries that last for about a year. Others operate on household electric current. Plug-in units must be placed near an electric outlet where they won’t be unplugged or turned off by a wall switch. You’ll probably need a qualified electrician to install "wired-in" electric detectors. Position your smoke alarms:

• On the ceiling – put the alarm in the centre of the ceiling. If that’s not an option, it should be 300mm from any cornice or wall.
• On a wall - 300mm to 500mm from the ceiling.
• On a sloping or cathedral ceiling - 500mm to 1500mm from the highest point
• Watch out for dead air spaces. These are spots that trap hot air which stops smoke from reaching the alarm. Examples are the corners of a room where the walls and ceilings meet, and the high point of sloping ceilings.
• Watch out for drafts. Don’t put smoke alarms near windows or air vents.
  

Further information

The New Zealand Fire Service has plenty of facts and information, including material suitable for children.

Check that you have the right extinguisher for the area on the Fire Service website.